William l



I(No Modem" vW. L. RUSHTON.

BARREL ATTACHMENT.

No. 546,680. vPanillted Sept.. `2.11:, 1895.

AN BREW E GRAHAMPHUTUUTHQWASHINBTUILE Y.

UNITED STATES PAT-ENT.V Ormea..V

WILLIAM L. RUSHTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS O. OAKMAN, kOli" SAME PLACE.

BARREL. ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,680, dated September 24, 1895.

4 Application filed February l, 1895. Serial No. 536,982. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. RUSHTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Barrel Attachment, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to barrel attachments.

The main and primary object of the invention is to provide a follower or eoverer attachment for barrels or similar packages that will provide positive means for exerting a constant pressure on the contents of the barrel or package to maintain such contents tightly packed and prevent the loosening or other displacement thereof during shipment. In the accomplishment of the objects sought for the invention also contemplates a follower attachment for barrels which shall be capable -of automatically compensating for any settling of the contents of such barrel or similar package.

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top plan view of a barrel or similar package equipped with the herein-described follower attachment. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the upper part of the barrel or similar package, showing the follower attachment properly positioned in connection therewith.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, l designates a barrel or similar package of an ordinary construction, such as commonly used for shipping oysters, meats, or other edibles that are likely to settle and loosen up during shipment. In the present invention the barrel or package l is designed to accommodate within the upper open end thereof the self-adj usting follower-head 2. The follower-head 2 is of a size that loosely registers within the barrel or package in order that the same may adjust itself to any settling or other displacement of the contents of the barrel or package.

i The follower-head 2 is normally pressed down- 5.o

ward within the barrel or package to exert a constant packing pressure on the contents thereof by means of the follower-adjusting spring 3.

Thefollower-adj usting spring 8 is arranged 55 centrally above the follower-head 2 and bears at its lower end directly on top of the follower-head to provide for the necessary downward adjustment thereof, and one or more of these springs may be employed to secure such 6o adjustment of the follower-head as may be required. The adjusting-spring 3 is properly positioned within the upper part of a barrel or package 1, so as to bear on the followerhead 2, by means of the transverse stationary cross-bar 4. The transverse stationary crossbar t is arranged directly above the spring 3, which bears against the under side of said cross-bar, and the latter may be preferably provided with opposite downturned ends 5, 7o which are braced and suitably secured to opposite topsides of the barrel or package l, thereby completing a positive and simple arrangement for holding the follower-head 2 in place and securing the yielding self-adjustment thereof, which adjustment of the follower-head maintains the contents of the barrel or package tightly packed during shipment.

In connection with the follower-head 2 is 8o preferably employed a cushion-bag 6, of sand or otheryielding material, which bag is arranged directly under the follower-head and bears on top Vof the contents of the barrel or package. This cushion or sand bag is of sub- 8 5 stantially the same size as the follower-head 2 and serves to evenly distribute the pressure on the contents of the barrel or package, while at the same time serving to retain moisture therein to provide for maintaining the 9o contents of the barrel or package moist.

While the sand-bag 6 is illustrated and described as used under a follower-head adjusted downward by means of a spring arranged on top of the same, it will be understood that 9 5 such sand-bag may be used under followerheads adjusted in a different manner-such, for instance, as shown in the contemporaneously-pending applications, Serial Nos. 526,654 and 526,646, respectively, both of which applications were tiled October 2, 1894.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

IIaving thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a barrel attachment, the combination of a self-adjusting follower head adapted to be loosely arranged within a barrel or similar package, a stationary cross bar secu red on top of the barrel or package above the follower head, an adjusting spring interposed between the cross bar and the follower head, and a cushion-bag arranged within the barrel or package directly under the follower head, said bag being adapted to evenly distribute the pressure on the contents of the barrel or package, and also to retain moisture to provide for maintaining the said contents in a moist condition, substantially as set forth.

2. In a barrel attachment, the combination of an adjustable follower head adapted to be arranged within a barrel or package, and a sand bag also arranged within the barrel or package directly under the follower head, said sand bag being adapted to evenly distribute the pressure on the contents of the barrel or package, and also to retain moisture to provide for maintaining the said contents in a moist condition, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. RUSHTON. Witnesses:

Il. O. BRUNTAN, C. M. CONRAD. 

